Bollywood’s Muslim stars wear armband in protest against Mumbai attacks
Most of India celebrates Eid-Ul-Adha on 9th December along with the numerous Bollywood Muslim celebrities. This time around though, the Islamic belief keeping persons have decided to wear a black arm band in protest against the people who attacked Mumbai last month.
Here is what some of these stars had to say:
Irrfan Khan: I will wear the black band to send out the message that terrorists are the enemies of Islam. And they cannot divide Indians in the name of religion.
Jiah Khan: Yes I will be wearing it. As Muslims, we don’t believe in terror and condemn terrorism in the name of religion. We also need to remember the names of all the poor souls who lost their lives so cruelly. We’ll pray for their peace.
Aamir Khan didn’t want to be quoted, but will be wearing a black band too.
Shabana Azmi: I’ll most definitely wear the black band and urge all Indians to do so.
Imtiaz Ali: The black band will symbolise that a disease has hit the Muslim population terrorism. And the mainstream Muslim’s resolve to get rid of it. Bakri Eid is the festival of sacrifice. These are not safe times. And this time, we need to get out of our safe zone.
Sajid Nadiadwala: Yes I will wear the black band because I want to tell the attackers/terrorists that if you mess with one of us, you mess with us all Indians and we are are all united!
Anees Bazmee: Surely, I’ll be wearing a black band. Terror-ism has no place in Islam.
Abbas Tyrewala: I’ll be wearing a black armband. No clever or quotable reason for it. Just as a mark of support, solidarity and love for my city and community. And to show my rejection of violence in the name of religion, not just Islam.
Dia Mirza: Of course, I will wear a black band. It will give out a token signal against polarisation in the nation. It is important for the Muslim community to speak up at this time and protest against acts of terror.
Eijaaz Khan: I will wear it. I guess token gestures se hi kaam chalana padega. I think it would a good start for us Muslims to show we’re part of the Indian mainstream’s reaction of anger and outrage against terrorism. For now, it might be the only gesture to prove we stand with the nation to condemn the attacks. It’s imperative for the world to know what the educated Indian Muslim’s sentiment is.
Zoya Akhtar: Yes, I will and I hope all Indians and not just the Muslims do so.
Muzamil Ibrahim: I’ll be wearing the band for sure.
Now there are a few who are refusing to wear the arm band:
Kabir Khan: Terrorists have no religion. This is something any thinking person would easily understand. I’m a little uncomfortable with the thought that Indian Muslims have to go that extra mile to prove their allegiance with tokens of protest like black bands. Why just Muslims? Every Indian should be wearing black bands on the same day so that all of us can stand and be counted as one. This would be a befitting reply to those failed nations created on the basis of religion. The media should give us space to condemn these madmen who have hijacked Islam with their lunatic interpretations.
Naseeruddin Shah: The trouble with these symbolic gestures is you feel you’ve done your bit. We should hold on to this feeling of dissatisfaction and helplessness so that we are galvanised into action. Muslims feel obliged to take up token gestures to distance themselves from the b******s behind the 26/11 horror. But why are Indian Muslims perpetually required to prove their patriotism?
Your thoughts on this…
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i understand the viewpoint of nasrudeen shah and kabir bedi, they are right, but as an indian they should wear the black armband anyways to show solidarity to those who have lost their dears and all those who became injured and to show they condemn terrorism and any kind of violence in the name of ANY religion. Abbas Tyrewala and some others have said the same. its a crucial time for all indians, some minor educated and illitrates and some politicians will use the situation to put the indians against eachother.
i completely agree with kabir khan n n.u.shah… even dou imnot indian but it doesnt matter for a few bad apples y shud the whole community show their allegiance. thats discriminating in my view.
Dia Mirza is a muslim?????